Chapter 173 Love arises without warning, and deepens with time…

On August 10th, Real Madrid's third China tour, which had been in preparation for a full year, finally kicked off.

This trip to China will last for a week.

Mourinho was very dissatisfied. The preseason training camp had already been postponed due to the World Cup, and the club was now taking a week to fly to China, thousands of miles away, for commercial development, which was not conducive to the team's preseason preparations.

Real Madrid took this China tour very seriously and had made thorough preparations well in advance. They had also signed a contract with the local Chinese operating company long ago. It was impossible to cancel it because of Mourinho's opinion, so Mourinho could only helplessly accept his fate.

Fortunately, the club's commercial department was somewhat sensible and did not arrange for the team to travel to several cities as usual. Real Madrid's China tour will only stop in Guangzhou for a friendly match against Guangzhou Evergrande, and all other commercial activities will be conducted in Guangzhou.

Apart from Kaká, who is currently recovering, and Van der Vaart, who is confirmed to be leaving this summer, all the other first-team players have been taken to China by Real Madrid.

Fino had mixed feelings about this trip to China; he was both apprehensive and expectant.

After wandering abroad for more than ten years, he wanted to go back to China countless times, but he was always uneasy.

After more than a decade of development, China, which is taking off, has changed rapidly. The land he was once familiar with will inevitably become unfamiliar. He is afraid of this sense of unfamiliarity, as if he has become a complete stranger in a foreign land.

Real Madrid's trip to China was an official business trip, leaving him no time to hesitate, which also filled him with anticipation, as he could finally return to his homeland.

On the morning of August 10, Real Madrid's chartered plane landed at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, where more than 500 fans from all over the country came to greet them.

Fino was stunned by the enthusiasm of his compatriots. Fans dressed in Real Madrid's pure white jerseys held up Real Madrid flags and posters of star players, densely packed and stretching as far as the eye could see.

The fans were very well-behaved and did not rush the security line; they simply chanted the names of the star players and "Hala Madrid".

Because the club had already arranged several autograph sessions and meet-and-greets during this China tour, and the players were tired from traveling, the team did not linger at the airport. After a brief wave and interaction with the fans, the players left the airport to go to the hotel to rest at the urging of the staff.

At 3 p.m., after the players had rested, Real Madrid organized a small fan autograph session in the lobby of the hotel where the team was staying. Tickets were drawn through a lottery via social media from several Real Madrid sponsors, and approximately 800 fans attended the event.

Because it's uncertain whether all players can be scheduled within a fixed event time, fans choose to prioritize their favorite players, which is when each player's popularity in China becomes apparent.

The lines for Fino and Ronaldo were the longest, with many fans also lining up in front of players like Casillas, Ramos, Marcelo, Alonso, and Higuain.

The queue in front of Fino moved much slower than the other queues because the other players, who didn't speak the same language, only needed to smile, sign autographs, and take photos. Fino, however, could chat with the fans and answer their various questions.

For example, is the news that "Maldini beats up Galliani and Ambrosini helps close the door" true?

For example, before the World Cup match between Italy and the Netherlands, did he and Sneijder really provoke each other?

For example, what exactly happened that night on the shores of Lake Como? Who were the people who were "blushing," "confessing their love," and "passionately kissing"? Why did some people say they "couldn't take it"? Did they have an in-part?

For example, was his transfer to Real Madrid for Kaká or Alonso?

...

The materials that fans brought out for autographs were not limited to jerseys and official posters, but also included a large amount of obviously homemade material, such as posters of him hugging and kissing Kaká, Pirlo, Alonso, Buffon and others, some of which were even photoshopped with hearts and pink bubbles.

The content was too straightforward, coupled with the fans' suggestive comments such as "May you and Pirlo last a long time!", "I support you and Alonso!", and "Be brave to defy worldly opinions"... Fino instantly understood what the fans meant.

This scene is just too much... I want to dig a hole in the ground and crawl into it!

Fino pretended not to understand and forced herself to calmly sign each of the materials...

The fans were so mischievous! By the time the fan signing event ended, Fino felt even more energetic than when he had played 120 minutes in the World Cup final and was about to save a penalty kick.

But he was still very happy to be able to chat with fans in China; he hadn't been able to communicate with people in Chinese so freely in a long time.

The club had no plans for the evening, so the players were free to do as they pleased. Some chose to stay in the hotel to rest and adjust to the time difference, while others went out for a stroll.

Fino also planned to go out for a stroll. He had never been to Guangzhou before, or rather, he had never been to any major city in China. The orphanage where he grew up was in a very small city, and in his previous life, he had never left that city.

Fino didn't invite any of his teammates. Kaká wasn't in the group for this China tour, and his relationship with Alonso is currently strained. He went out alone.

Guangzhou boasts a vibrant nightlife, with bustling crowds on the streets, shops displaying unique signs, and the occasional appearance of small vendors...

Fino was captivated by the bustling night view of Guangzhou. He wandered aimlessly, experiencing the vibrant life of his homeland.

As we walked, a towering building came into view. It was the new Guangzhou TV Tower, which was already completed and would officially open to the public in two months.

Fino had never liked modern skyscrapers, but the Canton Tower in front of him gave him a sense of pride and honor. It was a towering miracle, just like China taking off.

Just as he was feeling excited, a hesitant voice came from behind him.

“Phineas…”

Fino turned around and saw Alonso standing under a flowering tree illuminated by string lights. In the faint fragrance of the flowers and in the dim, dappled, and shimmering light, Alonso, dressed in a white shirt, exuded a profound and gentle aura of tranquility.

I searched for him a thousand times in the crowd, then suddenly I turned around and there he was, in the dim light.

At that moment, Fino seemed to hear the sound of a snow-capped mountain collapsing. The frigid ice and snow that had accumulated for millions of years instantly engulfed him. His rationality was crushed in an instant, but he struggled to regain his senses and then fell into endless turmoil...

He felt like he was really going to die...

Alonso's voice attracted the attention of those around him; his foreign appearance was quite striking. During Real Madrid's China tour, a large number of Real Madrid fans gathered in Guangzhou, and Alonso was quickly recognized by some of them.

"It's Alonso!"

"What did he say? Finney?"

"Fini? It's Cabrini. Where is Cabrini?"

...

Seeing that the fans were about to surge forward, Alonso immediately ran over, grabbed Fino's hand, and led him away into the distance.

By the time they had completely shaken off the fans, they had been running along the riverbank for quite some time. After squeezing into a quiet spot, the two of them stopped and breathed silently.

Alonso still held Fino's hand tightly.

On a summer night in Guangzhou in August, after running for more than ten minutes, Alonso's palms were warm and slightly damp, burning Fino's skin.

He tried to break free from Alonso's grip, but Alonso held him even tighter.

After dinner, Alonso left the hotel alone to clear his head.

After the South Africa World Cup final, Alonso's mood was complicated, not only because of the loss in the final, but also because of the intense pounding of his heart.

He finally understood why his gaze could never leave Fino, why he felt a strange jealousy towards Pirlo, and why he felt resentful when others got too close to Fino…

It all stemmed from his attachment to and possessiveness towards Fino.

Love arises without warning, and deepens with time.

After understanding his own heart and sensing Fino's stirrings, he did not press his advantage, because he saw Fino's hesitation and inner turmoil.

Fino must be scared, after all, she's not even 22 yet.

He didn't want to put any pressure on Fino, so he pretended to be nonchalant. He hoped that Fino could think independently, see clearly where her heart truly lay, and then make a careful decision.

He was waiting for Fino's decision, and even if Fino only sent him a faint signal, he would cross mountains and seas to come to him.

But when he ran into Fino on the streets of Guangzhou at night, he suddenly didn't want to wait anymore.

Against the backdrop of the towering Canton Tower in the distance, amidst the bustling crowds, Fino, standing alone and gazing upwards, appeared exceptionally lonely and desolate.

At that moment, his heart suddenly ached; he felt sorry for Fino.

I want to hold Fino in my arms, to melt away the loneliness that seems to have existed within him since time immemorial, to be his safe haven from the storm, and to warm his future life...

“Fino.” Alonso gripped Fino’s hand, looking intently into his eyes, “I…”

Fino raised his other hand and covered Alonso's mouth.

He understood the emotion in Alonso's eyes, and that's why he had to stop Alonso from continuing. Some words, once spoken, cannot be undone.

He enjoyed being with Alonso; they were so in sync and understood each other perfectly. A single glance or gesture was enough for the other to comprehend everything. This kind of unspoken understanding was truly rare.

It was precisely because he cherished Alonso that he needed to be more cautious; after all, love was a very complex matter. He didn't want to repeat the mistakes of his first love and lose Alonso in the process.

“Xavi, don’t say it.” Fino looked into Alonso’s eyes and gently shook his head. “Let’s just let things take their course.”

“Okay…” Alonso nodded in response after Fino released his hand.

He knew Fino was deceiving herself, as if by not saying it outright, she was leaving herself an escape route. The moment Fino uttered those words, there was no going back.

But he was willing to cooperate with the children.

Alonso reached out and ruffled Fino's hair, then kissed Fino's forehead.

This was a normal interaction they had always had, but at this moment, Fino felt that something was different.

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Author's note: Thank you everyone for your support~ [hugs]